Saturday, March 15, 2008

Mr. Beers, here's a bit more help for you. It's a quote from a rather good movie.

Judge Slade: According to the provisions of the statutes of our territorial commonwealth, you gentleman of the jury have been selected as representative citizens of our fair community. We want to see that the public's faith is justified. So when you boys retire to consider a verdict, stay out awhile. Mr. Kent will see that you are plentifully provided with liquid refreshments. And after you have deliberated sufficiently, weighed all the evidence fair and square, and brought in a verdict of not guilty, you will be amply rewarded. You understand?

It's from here. Amazon carries it if you wish to buy it. It's also available from Netflix. Please pay attention to Judge Slade when he speaks. You will learn something.

Because I am kindly soul and am in a particularly good mood today (I bought a new toy!), I have some advice for David Booth Beers as regards to his debacleearlier this week.

Tacite inepte.

And I mean it. Your damage control is only making you look even more mean spirited, foolish and incompetent. Even some of your most committed supporters do not believe you.

You went after two old men, shaved the rules to do so and got caught.

My advice, and it's even free, is call a special meeting, get the necessary super majority and do it over again. It's not as though they are going to fight you over it. This time bring your A game, because you are going to be eaten alive when you sue Bishop Schofield if you don't.

Alignment:Lawful Good A lawful good character acts as a good person is expected or required to act. He combines a commitment to oppose evil with the discipline to fight relentlessly. He tells the truth, keeps his word, helps those in need, and speaks out against injustice. A lawful good character hates to see the guilty go unpunished. Lawful good is the best alignment you can be because it combines honor and compassion. However, lawful good can be a dangerous alignment because it restricts freedom and criminalizes self-interest.

Race:Halflings are clever, capable and resourceful survivors. They are notoriously curious and show a daring that many larger people can't match. They can be lured by wealth but tend to spend rather than hoard. They prefer practical clothing and would rather wear a comfortable shirt than jewelry. Halflings stand about 3 feet tall and commonly live to see 150.

Class:Wizards are arcane spellcasters who depend on intensive study to create their magic. To wizards, magic is not a talent but a difficult, rewarding art. When they are prepared for battle, wizards can use their spells to devastating effect. When caught by surprise, they are vulnerable. The wizard's strength is her spells, everything else is secondary. She learns new spells as she experiments and grows in experience, and she can also learn them from other wizards. In addition, over time a wizard learns to manipulate her spells so they go farther, work better, or are improved in some other way. A wizard can call a familiar- a small, magical, animal companion that serves her. With a high Intelligence, wizards are capable of casting very high levels of spells.

I have a natural tendency to take the opposite side in any debate. My disposition is to play "Devil's Advocate". So, outside of family, very few of my friends and acquaintances have a take on my politics. If anyone is curious to know what I really believe, David Mamet says it far better than I can.

That's is what liberalism truly is about.

And he is right about Thomas Sowell. When our generation has passed, he will be remembered.

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Addendum, in the 'for what it's worth' department: I'm opposed to any extensions of repayment, easing of interest rates or debt forgiveness as relates to the current real estate crisis. That sort of thing makes the politicians feel better, helps the lenders out and does little to nothing for the debtors or more to the point for the nation at large. Government interference in economic corrections, which is what this is, very much tends to draw out the agony (See Stagflation and Great Depression). Far better just to get it all over with (See Savings and Loan crisis).

Monday, March 10, 2008

Back in my youth I was a role player. We would play Dungeons and Dragons as well as lesser known games such as GURPS, Twilight 2000, Traveler, Star Wars, Paranoia (my favourite) and TORG. TORG was a meta role playing game in the sense that you could use the same system in several different settings. You could play in the medieval fantasy setting, pulp horror, Pellucidar, cyberpunk and others.

The setting we kept returning to was straight pulp fiction. One of the characters I ran was 'Fighting Father Bob McGarrity', founder and head of Kidsville. Old movie buffs will have spotted what genre ofblack and white movies I ripped off for that character.

So, imagine my delight when I saw this gem at the book store today. I don't care if the characterization is thin. Pulp fiction is a joy all of its own and I for one intend to wallow for a while in purple prose and airborne fisticuffs.

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A Cautionary Tale

An Open Offer

If you are in favour of gun control, have never fired a firearm before, are in the Atlanta area, and would like to know what the fuss is all about, send me an email at mousestalker {at} gmail {dot} com. I will supply all firearms, pay for range time and supply all necessary equipment, ammunition and instruction.

I will not debate the issue with you unless you want me to. I will help you be a better informed citizen on the subject.